Heat warms Orlando's spirit while much of U.S. left out in cold

A guest enjoys temperatures in the '80s, on a hot December… (Joe Burbank, Orlando Sentinel )

December 9, 2013|By Kevin Spear, Orlando Sentinel

You may say it every December, but this year it's true: It really is hotter than normal. In fact, so far we've been having the hottest December in sixyears.

Monday's high was 84. Only once from 2008 through last year did it get that warm during the first nine days of December. This month, it has already hit 86 twice and 84 three times.

But fear not, we should be getting a "cold front" — with highs in the 70s — later this week.

Here is a look at some of the warm-weather winners and losers:

Winner: Water parks

They came from far (Sweden, Scotland) and near (the Atlantic coast) to soak in the sun Monday at Wet 'n Wild, where a holiday touch was "Angels, We Have Heard on High" on the loudspeakers.

Many Floridians have extended their water-park season because of warm weather, said marketing manager Ashley Reyes. "People are putting up Christmas trees and swimming all at the same time," she said.

Loser: The rest of the country

Fargo, N.D.'s low Monday was 95 degrees colder than Orlando's high.

"There was snow in Oregon, Las Vegas had winter-weather advisories, ice accumulated in Dallas and we've seen heavy snow in Philadelphia," said Mike Musher at the National Weather Service. "If you are on vacation, Florida is where you want to be."

Winner: Florida economic development types

A lot of CEOs like to play golf or hang out on their boats. And it's surprisingly hard to do those things when the fairways are frozen and ice floes block the marina.

"Weather absolutely has an impact on decisions on where to locate a business," said Jennifer Wakefield, a vice president with the Metro Orlando Economic Development Commission. "Where we really see an impact is on our film industry. While it's snowing everywhere else and freezing —- my sister-in-law in Vegas said its 27 (degrees) today — it's sunny and 81 here."

Loser: Hot chocolate

When the temperature soared to 83 after Saturday morning's Winter Park Christmas parade, the staff at Barnie's CoffeeKitchen sold more frozen and chilled coffee drinks than hot beverages.

"We had so much hot chocolate made, we ended up giving it away," said Michael Severn, barista and co-manager of Barnie's in Winter Park and downtown Orlando.

Winner: Attractions with "ice" in the name

Real blocks of ice are attracting larger crowds at Icebar, an International Drive nightclub with a section that's 23 degrees and filled with icy furnishings, and at ICE!, a 9-degree ice-carving exhibit at Gaylord Palms resort in Kissimmee.

"When it's hot, the locals love it, especially on a Saturday night because you can dance … and then just cool off," said Patz Turner, owner of Icebar.

Loser: Holiday giving

The heat may be wilting the generosity of those who would drop a dollar or two in the little red kettles of Salvation Army bell ringers. The charity's Red Kettle campaign, executed outside Publix and Walmart stores and raising money for Salvation Army programs year-round, is down 26 percent from last year at this time, when the economy was considered worse off.

"The heat could be a factor," spokesman Jaylen Christie said. "We honestly don't know what the problem is."

Winner: Construction workers

Orlando trim carpenter Tony Hart judges the weather based on how many shirts he has to bring to work. "In the summer, it's so hot I have to bring three or four shirts. Right now, he said, it's one-shirt weather. Hart said he "loves" temps in the 40s but won't complain as long as it's not in the 90s.

Mike Stevens, who installs windows for Hardwick General Contracting, said the sweet spot falls between 70 and 92 degrees. Any hotter and it's uncomfortable. Any cooler and caulk around window frames can start to get a little stubborn.

Loser: Manatee watchers

On Dec. 1, there were 139 manatees soaking up the warmth of Blue Spring State Park in Volusia County. But as it warmed up, a bunch of the sea cows said "see ya" and paddled back into the St. Johns River. On Saturday, there were seven hanging out.

Biologist Megan Keserauskis said the best time to glimpse the animals is when the park opens at 8 a.m. "We still have manatees, just not as many," she said.

Winner: Fake snow

The nightly snowfall production at the community of Celebration is drawing more folks than last year. The power of the holiday spirit and the cost — it's free — beats the heat, said Mike Nunez, public relations and marketing director of Celebration Town Center.

"The good thing is with our snow, it doesn't matter if it's 32 degrees or 132 degrees," Nunez said.

Loser: Warm clothes

"People sure aren't buying sweaters, I can tell you that," said Suzanne Welkner, a clerk at Bijou's Boutique, a women's clothing store on Edgewater Drive in Orlando.

Winner: Ice cream

Cold drinks, ice cream and other cold refreshments are hot items at local businesses. Pedro J. Malaret of Orlando downed a root-beer float Monday at The Soda Fountain in College Park.

"I've lived in Florida 35 years and I've never seen it this hot at this time of the year," said the local lawyer. "I just dropped by my house and changed into shorts because it was too hot for the suit I was wearing."